Stories

A new gel technology pioneered by Janet Moradian-Oldak and her team may eventually reach an elusive goal: filling without drilling.; featured image for Ostrow researcher makes strides in gel to regrow tooth enamel

Ostrow researcher makes strides in gel to regrow tooth enamel

Around the globe, dental cavities are the leading source of disability and pain: they affect 35 percent of the world’s population, with an economic impact in the hundreds of billions of dollars. …

Jianfu Chen (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for A Zika surprise: African strain can do more damage than Asian strain

A Zika surprise: African strain can do more damage than Asian strain

The Zika virus has spread to 44 countries, with thousands infected and thousands of babies born with microcephaly, a rare complication that causes small heads. But even though research dollars are being …

Yang Chai (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Stem cells may hold the key to helping patients with cleft palate

Stem cells may hold the key to helping patients with cleft palate

Every time we drink or breathe, the soft palate is hard at work. It acts like a trap door, allowing air to squeeze through or shutting so liquids can pass by. And …

Jian Xu (Photo courtesy of the Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC); featured image for Researcher Jian Xu earns accolades for cell fate studies

Researcher Jian Xu earns accolades for cell fate studies

Basic science can often be far from basic—especially for Jian Xu, who believes cells are kind of like people. “In simple terms, we look at how cells determine their own fate,” said …